Teen seriously hurt by hit-and-run driver preparing to go home

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - The parents of a local teen recovering from a brain injury after a hit-and-run are preparing for her to return home after nearly three months in the hospital.

Debra and Dale Bowman don't know what the future holds for their only child. At first, 19-year-old Emily Bowman was showing positive signs of recovery such as writing her name, but since a recent surgery, her mother says her progress has slowed.

"A lot of little things like that at least give you that hope," Debra Bowman told Channel 2's Ashley Swann. "Now we don't have any of that. It's gone and I don't know where it went."

Doctors say Bowman needs time, and they are recommending she return to her Woodstock home later this month. This weekend, her parents met with members of Sunshine on a Ranney Day for the first time to look at what changes must be made to accommodate Bowman's needs.

"It's huge that they've stepped up to try to help us out to get her ready to come home, because I didn't know what we were going to do," Debra Bowman said.

The nonprofit has pledged to add a wheelchair ramp and full bathroom on the main level. They will also help to transform the current dining and living room into living space for Bowman.

"We're going to try to make her space look just like it was before the accident," group founder Holly Ranney told Swann. "And make it teenager-like and as fun as we can."

The Bowmans hope getting Emily home and reuniting her with her beloved dog, Doc, will help to bring their daughter back.

"Hopefully things can work and we can get things fixed to bring her home, because this is where she grew up," said Debra Bowman.

At this point, Bowman is scheduled to be discharged May 29, which doesn't leave a lot of time to make all of the necessary changes to the family's home. The team with Sunshine on a Ranney Day plans to start with the wheelchair ramp and do the best they can. They're hoping the Bowmans' community will join their effort.